In downtown Montevallo there are four new shops and plans for more.

On Main Street, Sheep to Shawl&8217;s window is filled with an array of colorful yarns, scarves, hats, gloves, looms and books.

Two doors down is Elaine&8217;s Bakery and the aroma of hot muffins and cookies leaves no doubt that there&8217;s indeed a bakery there.

On Middle Street, Royal Duchess Clothing Company has just opened its doors. The windows feature up-to-date fashions with lots of cute little bikinis. Further along Middle there&8217;s the new Guys & Gals Barber & Style.

Rae Jean Flatt and her daughter, Marissa, have opened Sheep to Shawl. You&8217;ll find, in their shop, a beehive of activity and a wonderful array of everything you&8217;d ever need for spinning, weaving, knitting and crocheting. There is also a grand selection of gift items including Rae Jean&8217;s own porcelain pottery. Sheep to Shawl is open on Tuesday 6-8 p.m. for classes and Wednesday through Saturday from 10-4 p.m. Phone: 665-3953.

Follow the rich butter and cinnamon aroma to Elaine&8217;s Bakery. Tammy Martin was catering from her home when the business outgrew her kitchen, so she decided to open a bakery. Up every morning bright and early, she begins her day of baking muffins, cookies, cakes, casseroles and salads.

Some of these are for sale

there in the bakery and others are for special orders.

The ham

an d cheese muffins are especially popular.

Elaine&8217;s Bakery is open Tuesday- Friday 8-5 and Saturday 10-1.

Phone 665-0303.

Angelia & Jerod Gentry had an eBay store and decided they needed an on-site shop for their ladies&8217; high-end clothing line.

When asked about the new store, Royal Duchess Clothing Company, Angelia says, &8220;We offer personalized and knowledgeable service and we are committed to filling clients&8217; closets with the fashionable clothes they adore. We carry the latest and hottest fashions by purchasing out of New York and Los Angeles every week.&8221;

Store hours are Tuesday-Friday 9-5:30 and Saturday 10-2.

Phone 679-4229.

Guys & Gals Barber & Style is open on Middle Street.

Beckie Harris is the owner.

She offers men&8217;s and women&8217;s cuts, color and perms.

Harris says, &8220;It was my dream to open my own shop in my own hometown.

I especially like to see people&8217;s response to new styles.&8221;

Walk-ins are welcome in the new shop.

Hours are Monday-Tuesday 10-6, Wednesday-Friday 9-5 and Saturday 8-2.

The phone is 665-1439.

Soon to come are two restaurants.

Opening on April 23 is El Ranchero in the old Pratchers&8217; location on Main Street.

Gerardo Diaz, the owner, also owns two other restaurants.

Diaz said, &8220;We picked the Montevallo location because we think it&8217;s a great town.

We like having the college students and we think there&8217;s a need downtown for a good Mexican restaurant.&8221;

El Ranchero will be open seven days: 11- 9, Monday-Thursday, 11-9:30, Friday-Saturday. Sunday 11-9.

Phone 665-4090.

The long awaited Alabama Coach restaurant and bar will be open on or about May 1.

That&8217;s the best estimate given by owner Bryant Turner. Turner is proud of his choices for the positions of general manager and chef.

Ian Stuart, the general manager, comes to Montevallo from Los Angeles where he has been in the foods business for 35 years.

The chef will be Brock Parr who has served as sous chef, second-in-line, at the Birmingham Country Club.

Alabama Coach will be open for lunch with a &8220;meat and three&8221; menu added to the regular menu.

While the outside of the building was left intact, the interior is much changed. There are tables and custom-made booths for about 75, a long bar, a stage for special events and a pool room.

One of the booths will seat 18 diners. The pool room will not open until 9 p.m.

Another of Turner&8217;s plans calls for a fresh market to be located between Alabama Coach and Stella & Sam&8217;s ice cream parlor.